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Bastrop Co. Republican Party chairman removed from primary ballot

Bastrop Co. Republican Party chairman removed from primary ballot

Bastrop County Republican Party chairman Albert Ellison has been removed as a candidate in his contested bid for re-election, after his opponent challenged his candidacy because he turned in his application before the official filing period began.

The change forces the local elections office to destroy and reprint the 20,000 ballots for the Republican primary less than two weeks before early voting, elections officials said.

Ellison, who as party chairman serves as the filing authority for local offices, submitted his candidate application to himself two days before the Nov. 14 filing period started for public office and party chairs. The county elections office does not receive filing applications from candidates.

Jeanne Raley, Ellison’s opponent, challenged his candidacy this week and called on Ellison to withdraw from the race. Raley could not immediately be reached for comment.

Ellison officially rejected his own candidate application Friday, after confirming with the Texas Secretary of State’s office that his application was ineligible and required the reprinting of ballots.

Ellison said he mistakenly believed the start of the filing period for party chairs was the same as precinct chairs, which began Sept. 15.

“I have to own my own error and accept the consequences that it caused,” Ellison said in an interview. “I deeply regret the disappointment it’s going to bring to my donors, supporters and party base.”

Destroying and reprinting the 20,000 Republican party ballots will cost the county’s election office at least $12,400, which will be reimbursed by the state, said Bridgette Escobedo, county elections administrator.

The change will not affect the Democratic primary.

The media for visually and hearing impaired voters will also need to be redone ahead of early voting.

The elections office, which is made up of three staff members including Escobedo, will soon be mailing new vote-by-mail ballots to residents who already requested and received them, instructing them to submit the corrected ballot, Escobedo said.

If voters submit the incorrect ballot that includes Ellison, it will be counted by hand rather than with the ballot tabulator to ensure accuracy, Escobedo said.

In an email to members of the county party executive committee, Ellison expressed his regret and concern over his error.

“I am most concerned that if I erred, I have hurt all of you and the party far more than myself by that error, and that weighs on me greatly.”

Raley, 75, was the first person to challenge Ellison, 42, who was seeking his fifth term as party chairman.

The race between the two has been a battle to take control of the leadership in the party, with Raley saying she wants to better grow the party and Ellison pointing to his belief in team-building.

In December, Ellison characterized Raley and two precinct chair candidates, her husband James Raley (Precinct 2005) and Don Loucks (Precinct 1003), as a divisive leadership team, saying as the party grows it needs to learn to “disagree about issues with grace.”